Title

A Qualitative Study: Exploring acculturation beliefs towards therapy for the UK and Zimbabwean communities.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

There is an alarming rate of mental health disorders across the globe. Due to the high prevalence rate, the World Health Organization has implored member countries to use whatever resources, including indigenous healers, to fight the disease burden (Annelisa, 2014). Following how Zimbabweans have been displaced, with the majority of them living through hardships as they moved to South Africa and the United Kingdom, they can be viewed as vulnerable groups (Deslandes et al.2022). Zimbabwe is known to be one of Africa's countries with the most producer of migrants. Political repression, hunger, and economic collapse are significant contributors to the mass exodus.

Zimbabwean communities, families, and individuals were substantially affected by economic challenges, including homelessness, unemployment, and poverty (Mapuranga, 2017). Moreover, they have gone through multiple complex factors which operate at the structural and institutional levels. In a nutshell, stressors like political instability, wars, and civil unrest have been recorded as contributors to immigration.

Acculturation

Acculturation is considered the progressive assimilation of foreign cultures through ideas, behavior, norms, and values. It involves a shift in one's thinking pattern together with social behavior and activities. Usually, the migrant changes their behavior and attitude in favor of those from the host community (Phillimore, 2011). Different multidimensional models can be used to understand the relationship between mental health and acculturation. Several people have undergone mental challenges in their life through to long-term conditions.

According to research studies, there are four different stages of acculturation where one can change their worldview, systems of thinking, self-identity, preferences of languages, and communication (Annelisa, 2014). Language is usually the visible expression of culture that is most available. During the initial acculturation stages, one may be faced with euphoria and excitement. The next is culture shock due to a lack of effective communication during the initial acculturation stages (Deslandes et al.2022). The third stage is usually marked with thoughts of rejecting or accepting behaviors posed by the new culture. The last stage can culminate in either considered reputation of the adaption or assimilation.

Regarding Berry's acculturation model, there exist two independent dimensions: cultural maintenance and intercultural contact (Mapuranga, 2017). Multiple studies on immigrants' mental health depend on an un-dimensional scale to measure acculturation. Another parameter that can be used to gauge acculturation is the period of stay in the host country (Phillimore, 2011). Usually, people lose several aspects of self-identify when shifting from one culture to the other. The self-identity is modified to enable one to suit the host's cultures and values (Annelisa, 2014). When the length of stay is used as the only variable to gauge acculturation, it means that a more extended stay within the host's cultural society would translate to a greater level of acculturation.

Different models of mental health among the immigrants

Several current works of literature on the acculturation of immigrants concentrate on Hispanics and Asians living in North America, New Zealand, and Australia. There is limited literature on African Immigrant studies. This review has established only two research studies of the experience of the Zimbabwean migrants. One involves the Zimbabwean migrants in New Zealand; another is on the migration challenges among Zimbabwean migrants during, before, and post-arrival in South Africa (Deslandes et al.2022). While the last one focuses on the influence of familial and schooling experiences on the acculturation of immigrant children from Zimbabwe.

The economic and social challenges Zimbabweans faced during acculturation could result in mental health illnesses. Studies have found that well-integrated migrants undergo less stress compared to marginalized and separated migrants (Adams, 2017). For instance, displaced people like refugees and asylum seekers experience more acculturative stress than economic migrants who plan their travel and are also psychologically prepared (Phillimore, 2011). Several studies have associated several outcomes and symptoms of mental health challenges with cultural change and acculturation (Annelisa, 2014). Moreover, Earlier studies have also established a positive relationship beween mental health and acculturation. People with greater acculturation indicated good mental health outcomes compared to those with lower levels of acculturation. Such findings imply that good health, minimal psychological problems, and fewer mental health are supported by better acculturation.

Besides, pieces of literature have hinted that adjusting to the host's culture was very stressful and hectic for the migrants. The adjustments included challenges in accessing medical treatment, communication barriers, housing challenges, and the educational system (Deslandes et al.2022). The current research studies have indicated that immigrants' health, more particularly mental health seems to be much poor compared to the host's population health. However, even if several research studies have reported a positive relationship between mental health and acculturation, some pieces of literature have also reported contradicting findings (Phillimore, 2011). According to studies by Bhugra (2004), higher levels of acculturation is liked to greater depression levels, psychiatric disorder, and substance use. Research findings by Koch et al. (2004) also reported that acculturation contributes very little to mental health; however, it indicated a substantial relationship between mental health and socioeconomic and socio-demographic factors (Mapuranga, 2017). Conflicting findings may mean an individual's differential impact based on circumstances around their migration culture and experience. Further findings by Rogler et al. (1991) on Hispanics in the United States indicated a positive, non-significant, and negative relationship between mental health and acculturation. Other research studies on a diverse population, including Latinos, Asians, and other ethnicities, also gave the same findings.

Mental Health and Biosocial Spiritual Model

The mental challenge is pervasive in almost all cultures; as a result, different people from different cultures have adopted ways and mechanisms to deal with them (Phillimore, 2011). For instance, the western medical model in charge of diagnosing and offering mental health medication and the pharmacological industry founded on it became successful in propagating its influence across the globe, regardless of proof of effectiveness (Deslandes et al.2022). Similar to the United Kingdom, where stigma is still embedded in mental challenges, those experiencing identifiable mental issues in Zimbabwe are equally stigmatized (Annelisa, 2014). According to the populace, mental health challenge is considered a taboo that no one wants to associate with.

Nonetheless, some differences exist between Zimbabweans and UK citizens. Amongst the Zimbabweans, it was until recently, after acquiring some level of education, that people have started to change their perception of the mental health challenge as a common health issue that can befall anyone in society (Mapuranga, 2017). Previously, mental health was associated with evil spirits, thus, making it a challenging subject to handle, more so whenever it was a child suffering from mental health challenges. However, in the United Kingdom, parents were ready and willing to diagnose their children with mental health (Phillimore, 2011). The sharp difference in cultural perception between the UK and Zimbabweans created a massive shock for those Zimbabweans who came from one extreme side of view towards mental health to another extreme side.

Consequently, successful efforts have been made to destigmatize mental health challenges and psychiatric diagnoses in the west, more so about the most common and mild learning challenges affecting young people (Mapuranga, 2017). These include Dyslexia and Aspergers Syndrome, attention deficit disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (Adams, 2017). Also, most parents got motivated to take their children for mental health diagnosis since whenever one was found with some mental challenge conditions, they would be accorded some privileges and necessary support during the examination (Phillimore, 2011). As a result of the transition into modernity as well as the development and appearance of psychology and psychiatry, and more so with the pharmaceutical industry establishment and growth, several behaviors that would be attended to through religious frameworks, amongst other ways in traditional society, are now treated as medical conditions (Mapuranga, 2017). Regardless of limited success, the medical...

During the interview, the interviewer will be able to record the respondents, and major themes from their responses noted. This will enable the study to use thematic analysis in analyzing the data obtained.

Data Analysis and Presentation

According to Bless et al. (2006), the data analysis process follows once the data collection is complete. An analysis is carried out to allow the researcher to identify any consistent or inconsistent pattern within the data. In addition, the process allows the researcher to generalize research outcomes from the sample used to represent the larger population.

Thematic Analysis Justification.

This qualitative data analysis method involves reading through the data to identify patterns in meaning across the information to establish themes. The thematic analysis includes the active process of reflexivity, where the researcher's subjective experience carries a key role in deriving meaning from the data (Braun & Clarke, 2012).

This study will use thematic analysis because it is a flexible approach in qualitative analysis that allows researchers to derive new concepts and insights from the data. Moreover, as a student learning how to conduct research, a thematic analysis will be easily accessible and effective in this qualitative study.

Analysis Criteria

Having recorded the in-depth interview session with the respondents, the researcher will listen to the interviews one by one to familiarize themselves with the patterns across the data (Braun & Clarke, 2012).

The researcher will then create initial codes representing patterns and meanings obtained from the interview recordings. At this point, the researcher will reread excerpts and assign the same code to excerpts that relay the same meaning (Joffe, 2012).

Afterward, the researcher will combine excerpts associated with a given code. This is followed by sorting these codes into potential themes to identify and detect patterns and trends in the data (Braun & Clarke, 2012).

Subsequently, the researcher will be able to review and revise the themes to ensure that each theme is distinct and has adequate information to support it. Similar themes will be merged, while those lacking adequate data to endorse them will be eliminated from the study. At this point, the researcher will start formulating how to bring the themes together to form a narrative (Braun & Clarke, 2012).

Finally, at this point, the researcher shall have thought about the themes and will be ready to communicate the validity of the analysis (Joffe, 2012).

Anticipated Limitations

Due to the topic's sensitivity, several potential respondents may not be willing to participate. This is because some people still believe that mental health is due to some lousy omen, hence should not discuss others' predicaments. This study will solve this by educating participants on the value of the research study towards mental health improvement.

Ethical Considerations

In participating in traumatic immigrant experiences research, a degree of anonymity, data protection, and confidentiality must be accorded to all participants. This study will therefore obey and protect the identity of every participant, including any information shared with the researchers. Also, bearing that some of the participants will be immigrants, this study will ensure that all information shared on their entry or stay into the country of residence is protected and that the researcher will not report any case, whatever it may, to the authority. Any information considered sensitive by either the researcher or the respondent will be associated with the participant's name or any other identifier (Gajjar, 2013). As a result, the study will adopt the coding of the individual respondents.

Subsequently, participants will not be asked or required to answer any questions about personal therapy. The study will also remind the participants of their right to withdraw from the study at any point they so wish. Equally, the researcher will take them through our data protection and confidentiality mechanisms to allow each of them makes a consent to participate or not. Finally, all…